1 . Art is my favorite subject because I enjoy drawing. In school, there are only four
Art is my favorite subject because it can bring
I especially enjoy drawing cartoons. This is one area where my
A.music | B.literature | C.maths | D.art |
A.escapes | B.seems | C.ends | D.remains |
A.something | B.anything | C.nothing | D.everything |
A.blaming | B.finding | C.asking | D.forgetting |
A.physical | B.critical | C.changeable | D.emotional |
A.feeling | B.creativity | C.muscle | D.sound |
A.Coloring | B.Practicing | C.Teaching | D.Singing |
A.problem | B.homework | C.practice | D.advice |
A.rest | B.last | C.least | D.less |
A.Still | B.Meanwhile | C.Sadly | D.Finally |
A.share | B.enjoy | C.show | D.apply |
A.rare | B.natural | C.abnormal | D.famous |
A.positive | B.strong | C.objective | D.indifferent |
A.buy | B.do | C.search | D.taste |
A.tough | B.grateful | C.necessary | D.pleasing |
2 . My plan to learn to play the cello (大提琴) was a health y choice. So I took the next innocent step of going to a shop that sells and rents string instruments, especially violins, violas, and cellos. The place was a hole-in-the-wall, up a steep flight of stairs. Instruments left a narrow path to the counter where a woman with grey hair and warm eyes greeted me. Since I couldn’t form a question about what I wanted, I just stood there exploring the scene, which felt immensely pleasurable.
I rented a cello, a bow, and a case to hold them. What attracted me to the cello was its enormous size and its soft, smooth, and memorable sounds. It’s an instrument made of beautifully polished wood that I could wrap my arms around and feel its powerful vibrations when the strings were played. That was a good starting point for me. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to play it.
There’s a popular belief that the cello is a particularly difficult instrument to learn. Another is the admonition, “Don’t bother if you are a beginner over age 10!” Well, I was 70, and what others thought no longer influenced me. And besides, I thought of the words of Dr. Cohen, who suggested that learning causes physical changes in the brain.
So I found a teacher who had respect for older adult beginners and I practiced diligently, daily for years, and sometimes disheartened, but I kept up. I’m happy to report that now, more than a decade later, I can hold my own in a string trio and two quartets (two violins, a viola, and me, the female cello)and even a senior community band. Of course, I’ll never sound like Yo-Yo Ma but you could recognize a Mozart piece if you heard me play it. And, more importantly, I don’t need to please anyone but myself.
Whether it’s a pleasurable pastime or a new career, the starting point is the same: wonder, curiosity, determination, and the desire to keep your brain sharp.
1. How did the writer feel in the shop?A.Amused by the shop assistant. |
B.Anxious for a live performance. |
C.Pleased at the nice music atmosphere. |
D.Curious about where to find a teacher. |
A.Approval. | B.Criticism. |
C.Puzzlement. | D.Warning. |
A.To recommend a reliable doctor. |
B.To provide proof for common belief. |
C.To add another reason for her decision. |
D.To stress the crucial function of the brain. |
A.Art is man’s second nature. |
B.One is never too old to learn. |
C.Education is the key to success. |
D.Happiness is the best form of health. |
3 . Success is often considered to be the opposite of failure. To teenagers, it is the achievement of a goal or completion of something they really need, such as good grades and the ability to get along well with their classmates. Some schools used to agree with most parents who measured (判定) the success of their children according to grades, but now they pay special attention to moral (道德的) education and character-building to make sure teenagers achieve success in building human relationships.
Schools give chances to students to discover their hidden ability so that they can enjoy some form of success. For example, those good at speaking skills are advised to take part in speech competitions while those interested in arts are expected to perform in front of their classmates. Teenagers also get the pleasure of success when they join their favorite clubs.
Teenagers are often told that success is not easy to achieve and that success lies in hard work. Great efforts have to be put into project work. Doing things much later than planned should be avoided as this will lead to a mountain of work which finally makes them nervous. Another good quality (品质) is a sense of responsibility which makes them remember that a task has to be completed.
Sticking to moral values is the key to success too. Honest teenagers will win the trust of friends leading to good relationships. Self-motivation (自我激励) is another quality to be developed, for self-motivated teenagers will have the strong will and drive to perform a task and finally get to enjoy a sense of achievement.
1. What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 1 refer to (指代)?A.Their classmates. | B.Some schools. |
C.Most parents. | D.Their children. |
A.Project work makes teenagers nervous. |
B.Good qualities will lead to a happy life. |
C.Teenagers are advised to complete tasks in time. |
D.Taking responsibility will make work much easier. |
A.Honesty. | B.Self-motivation. |
C.Communication. | D.Friends’ trust. |
A.The Value of Moral Education |
B.The Key to Discovering Hidden Ability |
C.The Meaning of Success to Teenagers |
D.The Way to Communicate with Others |
4 . Even when you have confidence in yourself, your goals will sometimes seem out of reach. When that happens, get hold of the people who
When I was younger, I
Early in my
Even now, I
A.refer to | B.depend on | C.learn from | D.believe in |
A.quit | B.struggled | C.regretted | D.argued |
A.responsibilities | B.dreams | C.opportunities | D.doubts |
A.stopped | B.admitted | C.allowed | D.considered |
A.tracked | B.recommended | C.accompanied | D.encouraged |
A.serious | B.possible | C.hard | D.necessary |
A.request | B.unwillingness | C.inability | D.attempt |
A.difficulties | B.options | C.aims | D.standards |
A.career | B.experiment | C.business | D.recovery |
A.foolishly | B.simply | C.wisely | D.bravely |
A.original | B.familiar | C.typical | D.positive |
A.looking into | B.taking down | C.dealing with | D.pointing out |
A.introduce | B.remind | C.guarantee | D.warn |
A.experience | B.describe | C.compare | D.limit |
A.probably | B.fortunately | C.obviously | D.importantly |
5 . Rejection doesn’t always hurt. Sometimes rejection may
This year football fans have been watching to see how Joe would
Joe became the Heisman Trophy
Joe’s story reminds us that there are
A.follow | B.lead | C.create | D.clear |
A.study | B.perform | C.train | D.join |
A.tough | B.fun | C.attractive | D.easy |
A.accepted | B.remembered | C.rejected | D.ignored |
A.bench | B.stand | C.team | D.stage |
A.chance | B.resource | C.potential | D.enthusiasm |
A.signed up for | B.applied to | C.attended to | D.searched for |
A.fan | B.adviser | C.learner | D.winner |
A.similar | B.smooth | C.multiple | D.flat |
A.costs | B.takes | C.makes | D.offers |
A.theory | B.training | C.rejection | D.excuse |
A.achieving | B.planning | C.announcing | D.explaining |
A.affect | B.emphasize | C.estimate | D.acknowledge |
A.active | B.negative | C.possible | D.predictable |
A.interpret | B.imagine | C.explore | D.escape |
Our three kids were all under age five. We’d recently moved to the suburbs, and I’d stopped working to be a stay-at-home mom. Most of our friends lived outside our immediate community and didn’t have children. This all added up to a nonexistent social life for my husband and me.
I needed to fix this, so I became a room parent in my son’s kindergarten class, partly to spend time with him, but also to make more friends within the school community. I also signed my son up for weekend soccer. While those activities gave me the opportunity to socialize with other moms, it was challenging to cultivate friendships. I only saw my fellow room parents a few times a -year, usually during class parties. On the soccer sidelines, I found it impossible to watch the game, keep track of my young children, and maintain conversations with other parents at the same time.
I desired deeper interactions with the smart, interesting moms I saw around school. But we all led busy lives. How could I make this happen?
“You should throw a party,” suggested a friend who happened to be a professional event planner. “I can’t do that. I don’t really know these women,” I replied quickly. I hardly even had my closest friends over to my house. The thought of hosting an adult party terrified me.
“Just invite a few people that you’ve talked to and ask them to bring along a friend. You’ll meet even more people that way. It will be fun,” my event-planner friend said. I ran this idea by my husband, and I was certain he’d agree it wouldn’t work. “Great idea,” he said. “I’ll stay upstairs with the kids, and the party can take place on the main floor.”
I picked a date and set up an electronic invitation, making a guest list of moms from my son’s soccer team, my fellow room moms, and a few other moms I’d started saying “hi” to at school pick-up. But I didn’t hit Send. I started to talk myself out of it. There were so many reasons this wouldn’t work.
注意:1. 续写词数为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
With four mess makers in my household, I imagined many “what ifs”.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________But you know what? Everyone showed up.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Carrying the Flame of Inspiration
Excited, proud, and even a little emotional, I experienced a rush of different feelings when I passed the flame of the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou,
Although from different backgrounds, we 600 torchbearers all have something in common: Our deep respect for the para sports movement and the spirit in
“My heart is just like the flame right now. I used to be a kid with
When I was informed that I
8 . Clinton was a great example of the student every teacher loves to have in class. An immigrant from the Philippines at the age of twelve with
We
Clinton passed away on October 16th. We were all deeply
A.new | B.limited | C.practical | D.special |
A.founded | B.gained | C.offered | D.refused |
A.risk | B.threaten | C.impact | D.save |
A.Unfortunately | B.Particularly | C.Roughly | D.Hopefully |
A.some | B.every | C.much | D.little |
A.experience | B.career | C.outcome | D.answer |
A.attend | B.quit | C.finish | D.like |
A.borrowed | B.extended | C.owed | D.waved |
A.doubts | B.loans | C.hopes | D.funds |
A.comment on | B.act on | C.concentrate on | D.depend on |
A.difference | B.fortune | C.mistakes | D.adjustments |
A.relieved | B.pleased | C.saddened | D.shocked |
A.bowed | B.awoke | C.adjusted | D.objected |
A.adults | B.parents | C.teachers | D.youngsters |
A.promising | B.noble | C.modest | D.caring |
9 . Brady has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. It has been
We truly
Last week, I bought a simple card, reading, “Healing thoughts and wishes are coming your way. We are all
He is still undergoing intense treatment, trying his best to stay
Despite being too sick to teach classes, my professor has managed to continue being a great teacher, introducing his last
A.disappointing | B.challenging | C.heartbreaking | D.confusing |
A.normal | B.responsible | C.ordinary | D.outstanding |
A.collected | B.awarded | C.delivered | D.chosen |
A.admit | B.admire | C.inspire | D.cure |
A.hard | B.natural | C.practical | D.simple |
A.seeking | B.searching | C.praying | D.competing |
A.text | B.message | C.comment | D.wish |
A.anxious | B.thoughtful | C.curious | D.optimistic |
A.Therefore | B.Instead | C.Particularly | D.Besides |
A.related | B.devoted | C.committed | D.applied |
A.relief | B.power | C.pain | D.vain |
A.motivated | B.frightened | C.interested | D.touched |
A.added | B.considered | C.wandered | D.hesitated |
A.personal | B.precious | C.professional | D.inaccurate |
A.offer | B.convey | C.sacrifice | D.mean |
10 . About 30 years ago, an acoustic neuroma (听神经瘤) was found inside my body. The removal of the neuroma caused my temporary balance issues and permanent hearing loss in one ear. Apart from this, I was fine.
Unexpectedly, the neuroma came back years later. It had to be removed again. Otherwise it would threaten the rest of my brain. When I awoke from the second operation, I had stroke-like symptoms. The whole right side of my body almost stopped functioning, and still does.
Overnight my whole identity had changed. I used to effortlessly leap up the stairs two at a time, but now it takes fifteen minutes to struggle. Attempts at the recovery of the old me proved to be fruitless. My family role also shifted from a father to a dependent child, and coupled with my communication problems, this led to increased frustration (沮丧) and anger.
There were concerns too about whether I would ever be accepted again in the wider world. Soon after this I just managed to swim in a pool. A ten-year-old boy I didn’t know came up and asked me if I had been on the water slide yet. As politely as possible, I said no, and we struck up a conversation about it. For the first time a stranger was speaking to me as an equal like before. Though insignificant then, it opened doors to a whole new way of being seen, and seeing myself.
To make sure the neuroma did not reappear, I received radiation treatment for two hours regularly, during which I loved listening to music by Tom Waits, an eccentric (古 怪的) singer most people dislike, but I don’t care. For me, life after brain injury is like Waits’ odd works. Out of failure, ugliness, and horror-the most unpromising raw material-a beautiful diamond can be created that shines out even more brightly because of its dark surroundings.
1. What happened to the author after his single-sided deafness?A.He lost the ability to keep balance. |
B.His acoustic neuroma regrew. |
C.He underwent two operations in a row. |
D.His vision was accidentally damaged. |
A.The author’s efforts to rebuild his disabled body. |
B.The author’s self-reflection on his cultural identity. |
C.The different attitudes of the author’s family to him. |
D.The considerable impact of the author’s brain injury. |
A.Reasonable. | B.Engaging. | C.Life-changing. | D.In-depth. |
A.Music is the universal language of mankind. |
B.Suffering often leads to new self-discovery. |
C.Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear. |
D.Live for yourself, not for the approval of others. |